Improvement in trusses



a. GLEIM. Truss.

No. 221,960. Patented Nov. 25, 1879.

NVFETERS. PHOTO-LITHDGRAPBER, WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE GLEIM, on YREKA, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUSSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,960, dated November 25, 1879; application filed July 22, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE GLEIM, of Yreka, county of Siskiyou, and State of California, have invented an Improved Truss; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improved truss such as is used in the treatment of hernia; and my improvements consist in certain details of construction by which the pad is kept in its exact position, while, at the same time, freedom of motion is allowed to the plate to which the belt or band is attached for keeping the truss in place, as is more fully described in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view. Fig.2 is a rear view. Fig. 3 is a section. Fig. 4 is a view of the kernel K.

The pad A can be made to correspond in shape and size with the aperture or rupture by first taking a plaster-of-paris cast to ascertain form and size, and then constructing the pad accordingly. Into the back or hollow of the pad fitsan oblong or egg-shaped kernel, K, which is held in. place by means of the inclosing-platesB, riveted to the padA, as shown. This kernel K is made in two parts, which may be separated for the introduction into the center and between them of a ball, X, having a neck, X, protruding through the slot in the top of the kernel. This slot is made larger than the neck, but smaller than the ball, so that while the ball is confined there is a certain freedom of motion to the neck lengthwise the kernel. The kernel itself, from its peculiar shape, may move freely with a rocking side motion in the hollow in the pad, so that the neck X, to which the plate 0, carrying the belt, is attached, has a universal motion around the pad A, as hereinafter described.

The pad, after once being placed in its exact position, is not displaced by any move ments of the body,-as the movements of the kernel K and ball X, with its neck X, admit of a circular motion to the plate'C. In order,

however, to regulate the position of the pad when once in place, this belt-plate G is connected with the neck of the ball in a peculiar manner.

The plate 0 is perforated with holes a a certain regular distance apart. A smaller plate,

D, under it is also perforated with regularlyplacedholes a a smaller distance apart. v The upper end of the neck-X of the hall is cut square, and a shoulder, b, formed, over which fits the,correspondingly-shaped slot in the center of the under plate, D. When this plate D is not secured to the plate 0 it will rotate with the pad A and neck X. As soon, however, as the plates 0 and D are secured together by the means hereinafter described, the pad is held in its relative position as placed. The pad being placed in position, the upper plate, 0, is revolved until its belt is in the proper line. The hook cl is then passed through any two of the holes a a which are in line on the plates 0 D, thus locking these two plates together. The screw e is then screwed through the hook-plate, belt-plate O, and plate D into the end of the neck X, the plates being thus joined to the neck. While, therefore, the plate 0 has a rotative or universal motion around the pad, by means of the kernel K with its necked ball, the pad is kept in its proper position, either vertical or at an angle or horizontal, according to the shape of the rupture.

The pad itself may be perforated, as shown, for lightness and ventilation.

The kernelKallows a side movement to the plate 0, and produces, with the ball X, moving in said kernel, an exact center pressure on the pad, no matter what the position may be. The movements of the kernel K and ball X admit of a circular movement to the plate 0, and permit the bands by which the truss is held to the body to move freely in accordance with the movements of the body, although there will not be the slightest disturbance of the plate or pad A in its position. Once regulated the pad is immovable and the truss selfadjusting. This construction may be applied to single, double, umbilical, and all other kinds of trusses, which may be made of any suitable material desired.

I am aware that a ball and socket to give freedom of movement to the padindependently of the belt is of itself common in trusses, and such I do not wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, as my invention; but,

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' shoulder, b, in combination with the perforated slotted plate D, secured to the perforated beltplate 0 by the screw 0 and regulating-hook (1, whereby the pad is held in its proper position,

but freedom of motion allowed to the beltplate, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE GLEIM. Witnesses:

J. M. DAVIDSON, J osnrrr Bron. 

